The Contemporary American Family Poll was conducted by telephone during the week of September 18-25, 1981, by Yankelovich, Skelly, and White in order to assess attitudes regarding abortion and abortion-related issues throughout the continental U.S. Life magazine sponsored the survey. Respondents (all female) were asked about their personal perspectives regarding the legitimacy or non-legitimacy of abortion under differing circumstances, the social mores of the country, and the importance of the political process or agencies in regard to the abortion issue. Information on various socioeconomic, demographic, religious, and marital status characteristics of the respondent was also collected. The questionnaire was designed such that general questions regarding abortion preceded questions addressing any personal experiences.

The Yankelovich studies are conducted periodically on a variety of topics of contemporary interest, the questionnaire format being identical (general to specific). A related DAAPPP data set (Yankelovich Life Polls, 1986, DAAPPP Data Set B3), measures attitudes and perceptions of sex education with particular emphasis on what should be discussed and at what age.